Longi Green Energy Technology Co. is going to substitute silver with base metals when it comes to its solar cells. This is the latest move by the industry in order to reduce the rising cost of making use of the precious metal.
Mass production of other metals is anticipated to begin in Q2, as companies substitute silver with base metals in solar cells, which is going to help further lower the costs when it comes to solar modules, said Longi in a filing on January 5, 2026.
This transition comes as manufacturers go on to struggle with the intense competition as well as steep losses. Record high silver prices, which have been fuelled by robust haven demand in the middle of geopolitical tensions and also interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, have only gone in to speed up the process.
Other Chinese solar manufacturers that are taking a similar approach include the likes of Jinko Solar C, which remarked in December 2025 that it could also attain large-scale output when it comes to panels in 2026 that make use of base metals like copper. Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Co., which is a smaller rival, has already gone on to launch production of silver-free solar cells having an initial capacity of 6.5 gigawatts.
In October 2025, silver prices trading within the US$50-an-ounce range went on to translate to over 17% of the per-watt price of solar modules, which was up from 12% two months previously and 3% in 2023, confirmed BloombergNEF. Since then, the prices have seen a surge to the mid-US$70s.
Unlike most of the rivals, Longi goes on to produce back-contact solar cells, which are known to generate more power from the same amount of sunlight. Although they happen to hold a much smaller share of the market as compared to the more mainstream TOPCon technology, it is easier to replace the silver along with base metals in BC cells, said Longi in May 2025.